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J. BOURKE, A GONDENSI-NG APPARATUS. No; 530,553. I V Patented Dec. 11,1894.

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(No Model) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

fJ.ROU- RKE. GONDENSING APPARATUS.

No. 550,555. Patented Dec. 11, 1894.

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coN DE-NSING APPARATUS.

SPEGIFEATION forming partof Letters Patent 0. 530,553, dated December 11, 1894.

. Application filed May 21, 1894. Serial No.511950. (N0 modell T0 at whom it may concern."

Be it known that 1, JOHN ROURKE, a an zen of the United States of America,residing at Salt Lake City, in the county of SaltLake andTerritory of Utah, have invented a cer? tain new and useful Condensing Apparatus; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the lettersand figures of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

My invention relates toan improved condensing apparatus for use in connection with smelting plants; and its objectis the saving of that portion of the preciousmetals which is otherwise carriedaway withthesmoke, vapors andgases of the furnace. My improved apparatus is connected with the stack of the furnace. The fumes'fro'm the stack are carried to a. condensing and depositing chamber through a suitable conduit, by the aid of a fan or other suction inducing mechanism. The valuable portion of the fumes, namely, the precious metals which have escaped from the furnace in the form Ofvaponis'caught in tubes which are of such construction that the valuelessportionof the fumes is allowed to escape by passing through the walls of the tubes. Thesepoisonous, or other vapors, after partments of the chambe'nand pass thence through suitable outlets into a return conduit or pipe connected with the stack *ata point above where the fumes are originally taken from the stack. The tubesin which the metals are deposited protrude through apertures formed ina .falsefioor located a suitable distance above the true floor of the chamber. The protrudingextremities of these tubes are normally closed by valves controlled from the outside of the chambenwhereby the contents of the tubes-are discharged at intervals intothe compartment located belowthe false floor." These condensed metal deposits thus passto the true floor of the chamber, whereby they may be furtherr'educed or treatedas may be""desired, byhe'at from fire boxes located beneath the true floor or bottom of the chamber. The tubes in which the metallicdeposition takes place may be shaken from the outside of the chamber to prevent them from-clogging. This shaking mechanism is attached to the tubes and projects through the outer wall of the chamber.

Having thus explained the purposes and objects of my inventiomand having briefly outlined the construction of the mechanism, I will now describe in detail, the apparatus, reference a being made to the accompanying drawings in which is illustrated an embodiment thereof. 1n the drawings,Figure 1 is a side elevationof the apparatusythe front wall of the chamber being partly broken away to show the mechanism within. Fig. 2 is an endelevation of the same. Fig. 3 is a vertical crosssection taken through thecondensing chamber. Fig. 4: is a horizontal section taken through the waltofthe chamber, and presenting an underneath view of the false floor. Fig. 5 is a fragmentary view in detail and on a larger scale, illustrating one of the tubes in Whichthe metal particles are caught. Fig. 6 is a detail view illustrating the valve attached'to thecollar located at the lower extremity ofadepositing tube. t Similar reference characters indicatingcorresponding parts or elements of the mechan ism in the several views, let the numeral 5 designatethe condensing chamber divided by partitions 6 into any suitable number of compartments 7. Besides the vertical Walls, the chamber is provided with afloor 8 and a top 9. Connected With the stack 10 of'the smelting furnace (not shown) is the blast chamber 12 in which is located a suction fan 13. From this chamber leads apipe 14 which is carried upward and supported above the top of thechamber 5.

In the drawings (see Figs: 2 and 3), two pipes 14 are illustrated. There may, of course, be any number of these conduits, whose func tion is to carry the fumes from the stack to the chamber 51 t I The blast chamber is provided with a damper 15, whereby the communication between .the stack andchamber may be cut off at will.

Thepipes 14.- are closed at their farther extremities, whereby their only outletis via the chamber 5. These nallylof the, chamber, and are connected by pipes extend longituditransverse pipes 16 from which lead depend ing branch pipes 17 which pass downward through the top of the chamber. To the lower extremities of these branch pipes 17 are attached the tubes 18 which are composed of any fibrous 1naterial,wire cloth of any suitable mesh, or a combination of wire cloth and sponge, cotton, wool, hair, mineral wool, asbestos, &c. The construction of these tubes is such, that while they retain metal particles, they allow the poisonous gases and worthless portion of the fumes to escape. To the lower extremities of these tubes 18 are attached metal collars 19 which protrude through apertures 20 formed in a false floor 21 composed of sheet iron supported at a suitable distance above the true floor. These collars are provided with projections 19 which engage the upper surface of the sheet iron floor or horizontal partition. These collars are held in place by a layer 22 of brickplaced around them and covering the sheet iron portion of the floor. This false floor is so constructed, and so connected with the walls and vertical partitions of the chamber, that it may be removed if at any time it should be found desirable so to do. To the lower extremities of the collars, which extend beneath the false-floor, are attached valves composed of disks 23 hinged at 24 and provided with arms 25 connected with a rod 26 which extends through an aperture formed in the wall of the furnace, and terminates in a hand piece 26 on the outside. A number of these valves are connected with each rod, whereby a corresponding number of the tubes 18 may be opened and closed by a single act for the purpose of discharging their contents to the floor 8 below forming the bottom of the chamber.

Beneath the floor 8 are the fire boxes 27 em ployed for the purpose of matting or further reducing the material discharged upon the floor. It will thus be seen that by the use of the false floor, I am able to carry on the process of catching and matting simultaneously. Attached to the tubes 18 at a point midway of their length, are bands 18 having eyes whereby a number of the tubes may be connected and operated by a rod 30 protruding through the outer wall of the chamber, and provided with a suitable hand piece on the outside. By these means, the tubes may be shaken from the outside of the chamber, and all tendency toward the clogging of the tubes with the deposits, thoroughly overcome. Any convenient number of the tubes may be connected and shaken through the instrumen' tality of a single rod.

The waste fumes which escape from the fibrous or porous tubes 18 pass out of the chamber through pipes 31, and thence via a transverse pipe 32 into a longitudinal pipe 33 which leads to the stack and communicates therewith at a point above where the pipes 14 are connected.

In case the draft of the stack should not be sufficient, a suction fan 34 is located in the pipe 33 which acts in aid of the stack draft for the purpose of removing the waste fumes from the chamber.

From the foregoing description, it will be observed that the apparatus is controlled entirely from the outside of the chamber. By reason of this feature, I economize labor, and at the same time, obviate the necessity of the operator coming in contact with the poisonous fumes of the furnace, which, under ordinary conditions, are a constant menace to health, and even life itself. I have thus, it is believed, solved the problem of complete sanitation in this class of work.

It will be observed that each pipe 16 is provided with a damper A located at its j unction with the pipe 14. This damper is controlled by a lever B operated by a chain or cord 0 which hangs downward within reach of the operator while he stands on the ground. By means of these dampers, the depositing tubes 18 of any compartment 7 of the chamber, may be cut off from communication with the pipe or conduit 14, when for any reason, this may be desirable.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is- 1. The combination with a pipeleading from the furnace stack, of a condensing and depositing chamber divided into any suitable number of compartments, tubes connected with the pipe leading from the stack and projecting into the chamber, said tubes being composed of some fibrous material adapted to catch the mineral particles, and allow the waste portion to escape, a false floor having apertures through which said tubes project, valves attached to the lower extremities of the tubes, and means for controlling said valves from the outside of the chamber, whereby the contents of the tubes may be discharged upon the bottom or matting floor of the chamber, substantially as described.

2. In an apparatus of the character described, the combination with the pipe leading from the stack, of the chamber, the depositing tubes connected with said pipe into the chamber, the false fioor through which said tubes protrude, the valves attached to the tubes and controlled from the outside of the chamber, and means connected with the tubes above the false floor for shaking said tubes from the outside of the chamber,-as and for the purpose set forth.

3. In an apparatus of the character described, the combination with the pipe leading from the stack, of the closed chamber, the depositing tubes connected with the pipe and projecting into the chamber, thefalse floor through which said tubes protrude, valves attached to the tubes beneath the false door and controlled from the outside of the chamber, shaking means attached to the tubes above the false floor and controlled from the outside of the chamber, and a suitable outlet from the chamber for the waste fumes, whereby they are carried to the stack and delivered and connected with said pipe, valves located 15 ,in the lower part of the tubes and controlled from the outside of the chamber, and shaking means attached to the tubes above the valves, whereby the tubes may be shaken from the outside of the chamber, substantially as de- 20 scribed.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

JOHN BOURKE.

Witnesses;

J. E. 0013B, GEORGE M. DOWNEY. 

